Canaveral National Seashore Leeper House
Sound
On/Off
[ Date ]
07 29 2026
The Leeper House is a historic home in Canaveral National Seashore, set on slightly elevated ground west of Mosquito Lagoon. Surrounded by open lawn and bordered by dense live oak and palm hammock, it marks a clear boundary between maintained landscape and natural coastal vegetation.
[ Geographic Features ]
Barrier island, Lagoon, Estuary, Shoreline, Wetland, Mangrove Fringe, Coastal Plain
[ Patterns of Land Use ]
Conservation Land, Public Park
[ Data Set ]
7:16 PM EST
28.903067, -80.817314
87°F Cloudy / 73% RH
Wind: Gusts: 15 mph, WSW 250° UP to 8 mph
The Leeper House stands at the center of a clearing. White walls and a low porch face open grass. A single cabbage palm grows near the steps. Beyond the lawn, vegetation closes in.
Live oaks carry Spanish moss in their branches. Cabbage palms rise between them. Shorter palms and shrubs fill the ground layer. At the edge of the clearing, the canopy and understory press against the open grass.
From beneath the trees, the house is partly hidden. Moss hangs in the line of sight. Palm fronds cross above. The canopy extends over the lawn. At the margins, open ground gives way to shade and thicker growth.
[ Plants ]
Rattlebox
Common Names: Rattlebox, False Poinciana, Scarlet Sesban, Red Sesbania, Scarlet Wisteria
Botanical Name: Sesbania punicea
A fast-growing shrub with vivid orange-red flowers. Although visually striking, it is an invasive species in Florida that establishes in disturbed wetlands and displaces native vegetation.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Sesbania
Species: S. punicea
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Late Boneset
Common Names: Late Boneset, Late Flowering Thoroughwort, Fall Boneset
Botanical Name: Eupatorium serotinum
A native perennial wildflower commonly found along marsh edges and coastal habitats. Its late-season blooms provide an important nectar source for butterflies and other pollinators.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Eupatorium
Species: E. serotinum
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Broadleaf Cattail
Common Names: Broadleaf Cattail, Common Cattail, Bulrush
Botanical Name: Typha latifolia
A perennial wetland plant that stabilizes soils, filters water, and provides habitat for birds, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates. Often found in freshwater marshes and interdunal wetlands.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Poales
Family: Typhaceae
Genus: Typha
Species: T. latifolia
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Black Mangrove
Common Names: Black Mangrove
Botanical Name: Avicennia germinans
A salt-tolerant coastal shrub or small tree that stabilizes shorelines, reduces erosion, and provides nursery habitat for fish, crustaceans, and birds. Identified by its upright pneumatophores extending above saturated soils.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Avicennia
Species: A. germinans
Virginia Creeper
Common Names: Virginia Creeper, Woodbine, Five-leaved Ivy
Botanical Name: Parthenocissus quinquefolia
A native climbing vine found along maritime hammocks and woodland edges. It provides seasonal food and cover for wildlife while spreading across trees, shrubs, and fences.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Vitales
Family: Vitaceae
Genus: Parthenocissus
Species: P. quinquefolia
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Canary Island Date Palm
Common Names: Canary Island Date Palm, Canary Palm
Botanical Name: Phoenix canariensis
A large ornamental palm native to the Canary Islands and commonly planted in developed landscapes throughout Florida. Its presence often indicates nearby managed or landscaped areas rather than native coastal communities.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Phoenix
Species: P. canariensis